I had been planning and anticipating Alexa's 1st Birthday Party for quite some time. I ordered matching invitations, plates, napkins, balloons, table clothes, centerpiece, hats, candle, cake pan, etc. I was so excited for the big day! Then, on Thursday Alexa woke up SCREAMING from nap. She never is like that so I ran up the stairs to find my baby on fire. I took her temperature - 103.6* YIKES! I called the nursing triage hot-line for our pediatrician's office, and she suggested bringing Alexa in that evening to be examined by a doctor. Come to find out, Alexa had an ear infection (right ear only) and a cold/sore throat :( I was so worried that this was going to put her in a bad mood for her party and prevent Regan & Rylee from attending (since they are under 1-year, I didn't want to expose them if Alexa was contagious). We started her on amoxicillian that night, and by Friday morning her fever was gone! She was still a bit cranky on Friday, but by Saturday morning she was back to her normal self :) Fortunately, Rylee was able to come celebrate A's b-day with her. Unfortunately, Regan did not come because she had been exposed to the swine flu on Friday.
On Friday night, A had a little trouble falling asleep (I think because of drainage issues with her runny nose) so I laid with her in my bed until she finally passed out. I had to take a picture of her before I moved her (the one on the left), and then we let her have the pillow for a little while when we moved her to the Pack n Play (the one on the right). Doesn't she look so cute???
Alexa with Gram before the party started. She LOVED the balloons (but called them balls, haha).
Just some pics of A playing with her balloons... the weight actually.
Daddy ready to party in his party hat! Alexa giving Rylee a kiss... her kisses are ALWAYS open-mouthed. Papa said we need to teach her to kiss with her mouth closed, lol.
Present time!
Fisher Price Animalville Schoolhouse & Animalville people from Auntie ~ A bunch of adorable clothes (including the gray sweater dress) from Kristin & Phil (Kir has been one of my besties since elementary school)
Present time!
If You Give A Pig A Party book & stuffed pig from Aunt Kathy ~ Savings bond, pink boots, & lil crunchies from Merle, Erin, & Rylee
Present time!
Walking shoes, socks, outfits, & maracas from Noni & Papa ~ Disney books & cute outfits from Aunt Denise & Uncle Lee
Present time!
Opal earrings from JaJa ~ Not pictured: Books from Aunt Chris & Uncle Gary, Popper & cash from Gram, Money from Aunt Janine & Uncle Ken, and Fisher Price Little People Noah's Ark from Mommy & Daddy.
Alexa made out like a bandit at her first 1st Birthday Party!! Here is Daddy & Mommy with the Birthday Girl :)
We actually got Alexa to wear the hat for a few moments :)~
Singing "Happy Birthday" to our princess :) Mommy blew out the candles for Alexa.
Alexa eating cake & ice cream... she liked the ice cream more then the cake. In fact, she was eating the ice cream so fast that we were worried she might get a "brain freeze." LOL
The picture on the right is our favorite!
A happy BIRTHDAY GIRL on a sugar high :)
A video of Alexa eating cake and ice cream.
Alexa sharing some cake with Mommy & Daddy
Phil & Kristin with Alexa. Alexa with Auntie.
Alexa with Aunt Denise. Erin let Rylee have some cake and ice cream :)
Noni & Papa with the Birthday Girl. Alexa playing with her new schoolhouse.
Riding in the car to go get new walking shoes from Stride Rite (part of her bday gift from Noni & Papa).
Opening another gift, Mega Blocks with Dumping Wagon from Kelly & Charlie (our friends). Alexa loves hanging out with her JaJa, which is one of the words she now says :)
As you can see, we had a WONDERFUL first 1st Birthday Party for Alexa in Perry!! Now we're looking forward to our visits from Aunt Janine & Uncle Ken (who will be arriving tomorrow afternoon ~ yay! ~ and staying until Saturday) and Noni & Papa (who will be arriving Friday night with our dining room set ~ again, yay! ~ and staying until Sunday)!!! We also have a costume-required Halloween Party at our friends, Nick & Angie's house on Friday night (Aunt Janine & Uncle Ken offered to babysit, so nice of them). And if the weather cooperates on Saturday, Daddy, Mommy, Alexa, Noni, & Papa are going to go down to campus to tailgate and watch the game. So yeah, an exciting and busy weekend ahead of us :)
Two side notes:
**We are finishing up some of the decor and organizing in the Playroom, which means I should be writing a post about that soon.
**I'll post the pics from our photo shoot at Portrait Innovations yesterday either tonight or tomorrow.
Ciao.
The three of us had a fabulous day together celebrating Alexa's 1st birthday! In the morning, we went to Portrait Innovations to have pictures taken, including our first family photos (I'll post a few in a separate blog). For lunch, Alexa had her first Happy Meal from McDonald's - cheeseburger and french fries. She loved the fries, maybe because they were so salty?! For the record, Dan and I had Jimmy John's for lunch, and Alexa will not regularly be getting fast food.
After Alexa's nap we went to this place in Powell called Marcy's Clayground. We picked out a plate that said "My 1st Birthday" on the top and got to work painting! Daddy & Mommy took turns working and playing with Alexa :)
Alexa sat in a little sit at Marcy's Clayground for awhile.
The owner (Marcy, obviously) did Alexa's hand print for us. It looked great! I am so happy to FINALLY have Alexa's hand print... It is one thing I have beaten myself up for not doing sooner. I wish I had a hand print from when she was a newborn or even a 3-month old, but at least I'll have one from a 1-year old :-)
Here we are with the semi-finished plate (they are going to write Alexa 2009 along the bottom). The colors don't look so great because it still needs to be glazed and put in the kiln. I'll take a picture of it when we pick it up next week so you can see the finished product.
We then came home, ate dinner, had some leftover birthday cake (thanks, Noni!) and played downstairs (still no full room pictures of the Playroom because we have not finished decorating).
We had a small gift for Alexa to open on her birthday... a cute striped turtleneck and brown pants.
Thank you, everyone, for the birthday wishes, cards, and gifts! Alexa is a lucky little girl to have so many people that love and care about her :) Will try to post the professional photos & pictures from Alexa's first 1st Birthday Party (in Perry) soon. Ciao.
I know I say it every time I post, but we have been so busy lately! Here is a quick "highlight" from the middle of October...
The second weekend of October, we had tickets to the OSU v. Wisconsin game. On Saturday morning, we met my parents in Ashland to hand over Alexa for her first sleepover without Mommy & Daddy. Dan and I were able to go tailgate, go to the game, and go out with friends. It was nice to have a "break" from parenthood :) Here we are at our friends' tailgate and then there is the band right in front of us at The Shoe!
Self-portrait of us and a picture of us with the stadium in the background.
Alexa got to see Auntie go to Homecoming. Papa fed Alexa her bedtime bottle :)
We went karaoking - Tim, Sean, & Dan sang Family Tradition by Hank Williams Jr. - Tim & I sang our song, I Wanna Talk About Me by Toby Keith.
I sang American Pie by Don McLean with the boys, and Dan & I sang Hurts So Good by John Mellencamp.
On Sunday, Noni & Papa brought Alexa to Lodi to give her back (even though they wanted to keep her, haha). We did a little bit of outlet shopping.
Alexa with her Noni & Papa.
I put A's hair in a Pebbles-style ponytail for the first time a few weeks ago... it is so cute!
Alexa loves bath time!
Alexa thinks she can climb out of her "prison" (aka the Playroom), haha.
Auntie came to visit us for a few days! We had so much fun with her!!! We shopped, baked, cooked, and played :)
Her is Alexa with my BFF, Kat's mom. We had a nice visit with Hilary & Mike (Kat's stepdad), and they brought her an adorable outfit for her birthday!
Alexa waiting for her last swim class to start - she really enjoyed splashing, singing, and sliding in class!
Mommy & Alexa at Worthington Community Center.
We had a Playdate with the Sip Family this month. Alexa is really beginning to interact with other children, and she enjoyed sharing her Playroom with Leylynn!
I finally had the bright idea to put a bow in her ponytail :)
Alexa & Mommy at Babytime.
As you can see, it truly has been a BUSY October! Alexa continues to learn new words every day, as well become more independent, more playful, and more social. She is a wonderful baby, and we are beyond blessed to have her in our life! More later, y'all... Ciao.
